My wife jokingly said that I should start offering a three pack for weddings, cook the rehearsal, play the wedding then dj the reception. It could be fun, but I do believe my head would explode if u did it alot. Bi if that sounds good to you…

My bro-in-law made me a shirt that says “clint v music. Dude, that’s some awesome sauce”

I realized the other day how much of an apple snob I was. It was made clear to me when I learned the ipad doesn’t play flash and won’t and I was sadened because my webpage is all flash. So, even though I can’t say enough good things about That Angie Girl and how awesome here design is, I’m working up a new website that will play on the ipad.

I’m such an apple snob it’s funny.

New website coming.

I just wanted to post this super short blog as an advance way to say thank you to those who bought a CD at Miguel and I’s show on Saturday (which is weird to say cuz it hasn’t happened yet) and as a thank you to those of you who read the blog.

A lot has been going on in my world, mostly a large change who arrived in a little package named Robby.  Hope you enjoy his song “Dear Robby” and know that by following me and supporting my music, you are in a large way helping the Keeping Robby with Shelter Fund, which will some day transition to the Get Robby Out of Our House Fund (Some people call that a College Fund)

Other than that, I now tweet so if you want to keep up with the music and random things in my life follow me on twitter

@clintvmusic

Blessing and I’ll see you at the next show!

Sometimes that is hard to say, but right now it’s not.  I’m planning my fourth and final Rock Camp for Blues to Bach Music starting next week (Concert Friday July 24th, 7:00 PM – Going to Rock Your Face OFF!), I’m leading worship two to three times a month and after buying a house, I’ve spent most other waking hours working on it.  (The current project is covering up the giant Lowes Ad that it is right now)

Because I’ve got to much on my plate what has been suffering is any and all promotion to my shows and my blog, meaning when I go out and play there are my five loyal friends. (Yes, that is those of you who read this blog)  But, as I sit and cry myself a puddle of self pity I realize that off all things to let drop, that one is most likely the best.  I think I could easily dive into a pile of work, playing and recording and miss out time with my wife or friends and while I’d get a lot done I’d have undermined my relationships of those whom I do it all for.  The balancing act of life.

My current favorite word right now

“Sabbath” 

I’m learning to love it, to embrace it.  And to have a little fun while I work…

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As the plane was taking off today two recent plane incidents went through my head, the Air France Crash and the Miracle on the Hudson.  While one is a huge tragedy and the other an incredible act of skill and quick thinking that saved so many lives, as the plane went up I realized I let the wrong things go through my head.  I’ve flown all over the world and never really been scared of flying but thoughts like that just send the hebbie jebbies through you.  That does help me have a little sympathy for my sister-in-law who after a few awful experiences with turbulence really doesn’t like to fly.  My comforting thought, over a hundred flights had come in and out of KCI before I left this morning.  Seems that for the high majority of flights they’ve got this defying act of gravity thing down.

Letting the wrong thoughts go through my head really affects how I approach something.  This last week, the fabulous coordinator that I am, scheduled to direct a Rock Camp, start renovation on my new home and try to plan a date with my wife before I headed out on this vacation.  Started the week already feeling crazy bogged down, and then I had some news that hit me like a train.  Not a good time for bad news but it hit me harder because I was already stretched thin and the news made me really want to spent time with my wife and I couldn’t.  Not fun.

But as the week went on, it got better.  My amazing wife was very understanding and we made time to be together and talk, the renovations went smooth thanks to some great friends who also helped me cry a bit (very much needed for an overly emotional guy like me.  And, no, I don’t think I’m a girl for needing to cry) and lets talk about how hanging out with really cool kids playing some sweet music is just soothing for the soul.  If you are in Kansas City and have a free Friday night some time we’re doing a concert this Summer you need to catch one of these Rock Camp Concerts!   The talent and fun these kids have is contagious!  

So, by this time in the blog I bet you’re wondering “Why the heck do you always write about heavy stuff?” or “Why are flying right now anyway?  Are you on your way to LA to sign a multi-million dollar record deal?”  That second thought is to kind.  Thank you for thinking so highly of me. 

I write what I feel, (though Ben Folds “Brick” was just on so that might have made it a bit heavier) and while the plane I’m on is heading to LA, I’m getting off in Albuquerque to enjoy the worlds best pizza (DION’s baby here I come!) then continue my way West until my dad I reach the Grand Canyon.  For some silly reason after almost loosing family members the first time we hiked it we though it would be fun to do it again, this time go from the North rim all the way down and back out the South.  And again with my wonderful planning skills I noticed last Friday that my hiking boots are MIA and I had to buy a new pair and pray they’re broken in enough to not kill my feet.  (Still praying, but I got faith)

So, fun adventure awaits and I’m going to keep thinking that.  To think otherwise could be devastating and has almost caused me to cringe ever time I look down 40,000 feet.  When I look down now it’s only about 1000 feet, not because I’m about to land but because the clouds are getting in my way.  They better get out of the way when we get close to New Mexico ‘cuz my eyes are hurting for some mountain views and that might just put a little damper on the start of my vacation.

Hope all of you have a great week and I’ll catch you on the other side of the canyon.

I have discovered upon research that if they get off their property again and show aggression towards me, I can kill them. And they should be put down. When we returned home later that evening we came upon another scene of distress. They had gotten out again and had bitten a woman 3 or 4 times on the legs. I love dogs, but there is a point when a dog has behaved in such a way that it has forfeited it’s right to exist. I don’t think that should stop with animals.

It’s no secret that politically I lean more right then left, and while I’ll happily agree with any liberal there are idiots throughout the Republican party, I tend to agree with conservative ideas more often than not. So, as a conservative who calls himself a follower of Christ I’m often presented with this moral dilemma,

“How can you support the death penalty and be against abortion?”

That’s a really good question.

I think every person has the right to live, but I think that we can do things to forfeit that right.

I hear the arguments for the rights of the mother, and with tears in my eyes I say “She shouldn’t have had sex” I hear the sad tales of the hard life of the death row convict and his good behavior in prison and with tears in my eyes I say to execute his sentence.

There is no doubt mercy is greater than justice, but it is justice that teaches me of mercy. When we know our actions have consequences then we can understand the grace of not getting those consequences.

As to babies, I had the joy of seeing my son for the first time in his moms womb. He was moving around, opening his mouth and we got to watch the heart beat. It was so weird and so cool to see all that is already there at 20 weeks. The day before we say this blessing of God, a tragedy happened when a late term abortion doctor was gunned down in his church. The man who did it is a criminal, but my pity for the doctor is complex. I think what he did for a living was evil, on the level of pedophiles, rapist and sex traffickers. Were I put in a position of judgment over him I would have found him guilt of the murder of hundreds of innocents.

But the sort of vigilante justice that took his life is exactly what Jesus was speaking to when he uttered those famous words, “Let him with no sin cast the first stone”. Those who wished to cast the stones had no regard for the law, only their opinion. I submit myself to the Word of God as my authority, and it tells me to submit to government, and that government has a sword (a weapon of execution) for a reason. I pray that my opinion or my compassion never take such a strong hold over me that I would forsake Truth because it no longer fits my mold.

Knowing and loving dearly several people who don’t see eye to eye with me has lead me to form this thought of liberalism. The reasons they believe and do so many things they do is out of love and compassion. Many liberals I know have huge hearts and love and care for the world so much, and I can’t speak of how much I respect that. Where I stand aside is I don’t see justice and Truth in their solutions. Often fairness is inserted in place of justice, but fairness can only take you so far.

For example, when comfort of the mother’s life is put as a higher priority than the unwanted child we can’t be fair anymore. Ether the mother has to be an adult and let her life be changed forever (don’t even get me started on the lame boy that put the women in that situation) or the child doesn’t get to live.

Maybe all of this is to heavy for some small time singer / songwriter blog, but I sing songs of life that touch the soul. Sometimes they’re happy, sometimes they are not. But the sanctity of life has touched my soul this week, and I hope that it might touch yours too. Whether we come to the same conclusions about those hot button issues I don’t care, but I do hope that we can agree that all life is precious.

But surprisingly there was there was a decent number of people who were not daunted by the forecast and really needed their cup of joe with a sprinkling of local singer / songwriter in the background.  There was one person in particular who really made the night worth my while.  After I got done playing a little blond girl came up to to me with her dad and presented me with her work of the evening.  

I thought her work was so good it couldn’t go unshared.   I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Quick Updates – I’ll be playing at The Mission Theatre Lounge May 29th at 9:00 PM, but what is really cool is some friends of mine are playing at The Mission Theatre next door in a battle of the bands.  Winner gets a chance to open for David Cook!  Go check out Two Seconds Away for more info on that.  It would be awesome if some of you would come support them and then head next door and say hello.

Once again I’ll be spending my summers with a bunch of kids playing lots of Rock and Roll for Blues to Bach Summer Rock Camps.  It really is a great time and if you get a chance to catch one of the shows, you will be blown away by what these kids can do.  So much talent in such little bodies.  

Huge blessing came my way when I was asked if I was interested in leading worship for the Navigators Main Event this year.  That’s way down the road in October, but I’m really excited and very thankful.  

Thank you to all who come and read this little blog.  Please tell your friends, family, people you don’t like, anybody really to come by and check out the music!

The inspiration for the bargain hunting is a new residence Melissa and I will be moving into some time in June.  As this will be our first house we thought we’d go for something simple and nice, and found a 115 year old beauty that could be a dream home or a nightmare.  Most people who look at it use terms like “elbow grease” and “TLC” , terms that send shivers down the spine of lesser men.  Luckily for me, I have in my corner the “do-it-yourself king” dad and the “I live in the house I built with my bare hands” father-in-law.  Old creaky home, prepare to be owned.  

Now, what does any of this have to do with music you ask?  Yeah, I’m kinda wondering that myself as well.  Since getting back from Wichita life has speed up about ten clicks, but musically I’m twiddling my thumbs while Chad does the mixes and re-recording on the drums.  Silly me didn’t get any scratch tracks so I have nothing to tease the three of you that read this blog with except a short video.  So, I’ll leave you with that teaser and encourage you to make a trip down to the Mission Theatre Lounge some night when I’m playing.  Fourth Friday’s (let’s not mention they have me on May 29th this month and that is the fifth Friday and I’m kinda worried about the booking guy’s math skills…)

Later,

The hills were alive with the sound of flaming brush, and so was the Hartnett front yard

Maya got to spend some quality time with her dog cousins

We actually don’t know this guy, but he was interesting enough to take a picture of

And we remembered the eternal truth that the iCamera and Photo Booth effects never stop getting funny

Next weekend; Recording in Wichita!   Many more videos and pictures to come!

Anyway my beautiful wife and her family give cards and candy and other cool stuff at Easter and I think that is pretty cool, so I thought do a little something for all the peeps who spend a little time checking out my site (thanks mom) and anyone who randomly comes across it and wants something interesting to do while they’re here.

I hope you enjoy.